by Swieqi United secured a 6 – 1 victory against Valletta to end the first round in second place in a match that featured almost as many cards. The opening half featured heated spats, but the Owls walked into half-time two to the good courtesy of an own goal* and a header by Tammy Falzon. Shakira Bugeja fired a top-drawer finish to give Valletta a life-line, but a hat-trick by Salamatu Abdulai and a goal from Sara Saliba* wrapped up the win for Swieqi.
Team Selections
Patricia Araujo started behind a shuffled defence. Tammy Falzon returned from injury alongside Ylenia Azzopardi. They were flanked by Sarah Urpani and Emma Xuereb. Michaela Cachia started in a midfield together with captain Shona Zammit and Ema Micallef. Andjela Kricak started further forward, alongside Salamatu Abdulai and Aleksandra Yaneva.
Meanwhile, Gabriella Grima started between the posts for Valletta. Julianne Camilleri and Lorna-Maria Cassar started on the wings of a five-piece defence, with Shakira Bugeja, Sarah Micallef and Ilona Sultana. Eliza Csik and Hannah Fenech continued their stay in midfield, with Liliana Zolorsano and Sarah Fenech on the wings. Captain Joelma Alves Gabriel was the lone attacker.
How It Unfolded
Proceedings kicked off in the manner expected, with Valletta focused on maintaining a tight setup in their own half and putting the onus on Swieqi United to weed their way through.
Having churned plenty of possession, with runners behind to combat the overload, the final third combination eluded them early on. However, Salamatu Abdulai got a first real sight of goal in the 13th minute attempting to convert a cross, but the finish was wide.
Valletta responded with a rare venture into the Swieqi half. Limited in support, Joelma Alves Gabriel fired from distance in attempt to inject some positive belief for the side.
However, the Swieqi United overload kept coming and the Owls were ahead in the 17th minute. Emma Xuereb fired in the cross, with Aleksandra Yaneva putting enough pressure on Ilona Sultana for the ball to flick of her boot and end in the back of the net.
The Owls continued squeezing up, looking to play short passes in between the congested setup of Valletta. The shot count continued to pile for the Owls, with a good rhythm to their play but still with just the one goal in the balance.
Shona Zammit managed to find the weighting to release Ema Micallef who was the next to make the run behind in the 21st minute. Controlling with a touch and ready to lift it over Gabriella Grima, the youngster was denied the goal by the far left post.
Though not seeing much possession, Valletta responded by picking their moments in transition. Joelma Alves Gabriel picked up the ball in midfield, this time having Eliza Csik in support. However, the Hungarian’s shot lacked the accuracy in the finish from distance.
The side asked more questions later on with a blistering counter-attack following a corner. This time Eliza Csik burst forward before finding Hannah Fenech’s run in support. Free-on-goal, the youngster pulled the trigger from distance but too far out to trouble Patricia Araujo who was alert to make the save.
The Owls found the second in the 28th minute. Released behind by Salamatu Abdulai, Andjela Kricak’s effort was blocked by Gabriella Grima and Ilona Sultana. Following a to-and-fro on the placing of the ball with the officials, the Serbian delivered the kick right into the space for Tammy Falzon to arrive at the far post and find the right side of the net to double the scoring on her return.
The tensions in the match boiled in the 33rd minute as Sarah Micallef swiped Salamatu Abdulai from behind, taking nothing from the ball. Matters worsened when Jo-Anna Vassallo brandished a yellow card instead of the expected direct red. However, the official was keen on maintaining control as the Ghanaian received treatment.
Matters worsened as Shakira Bugeja argued the player not leaving the pitch, with the spat developing between the two sides. Minutes later, Bugeja was leaving a lurking foot on Emma Xuereb, with the veteran replying without haste. Emma Xuereb landed in the book as well, with the card count rising for the Swieqi side. Tammy Falzon landed in the book just before half time.
Valletta were doing enough against the Swieqi possession, with the free-kicks delivered by the referee’s whistle at every turn. Tammy Falzon headed out a kick from Shakira Bugeja, before the number seventy-seven fired the follow shot. However, Patricia Araujo was ready to collect.
The Owls turned a few more chances to add to their tally, with Michaela Cachia next to turn up front more frequently. However, the cross was gathered by Gabriella Grima. Tammy Falzon was found again with another curled free-kick from the wing, but the youngster couldn’t find the target on that occasion.
Half-Time Score: Swieqi United 2 – 0 Valletta
Both Dorianne Theuma and Anton Cremona made changes in the break. Swieqi United deployed a triple threat. Shannen Mallia replaced Ema Micallef. Sara Saliba fronted the attack, with Jade Schembri also coming into the fold taking the right-back position. Emma Xuereb and Ylenia Azzopardi gave way, with Sarah Urpani swapping to the left and Michaela Cachia shifting in defence.
Anton Cremona replaced his right wing. Julianne Camilleri changed with Kristina Zammit, while Nicole Grixti took the position further forward. Hannah Fenech gave way, with Joelma Alves Gabriel retreating into midfield and Liliana Zolorsano becoming the lone attacker.
On the other hand, there were no changes in the stance related to bookings from the officials, with Shona Zammit landing in the book within three minutes of the half. While Swieqi had been cautioned on the nuances of the ball position earlier in the match, the second-half brandished an argument over the distance of the opposition from the taker that the officials did not seem to be as keen on impressing on Valletta.
The football itself lulled as the intensity dropped from both teams, with Valletta not putting much going forward and Swieqi United appearing to fall into the same rhythm with the lead comfortably intact.
However, the match received the perfect injection in the 66th minute. Valletta were handed a free-kick on the right side of the box, with the side frustrated by the officials lack of awareness of an advantage at play. However, the side made the most of it. With Swieqi United focused on marking players in the box, Joelma Alves Gabriel passed it to an unmarked Shakira Bugeja who delivered a first-time, top-drawer, finish into the far top left corner of the net to make it 2-1.
The celebrations did not last long, with the goal acting as the perfect trigger for Swieqi to go back on the offensive. A corner did the trick, with Shona Zammit curling the inswinger to find Salamatu Abdulai in the 6-yard box. The Ghanaian headed it low into the centre of the net to earn back the two-goal advantage.
The Owls picked up the momentum for more goals. Shona Zammit curled another cross for Sara Saliba who attempted the bicycle kick but did not catch it cleanly. Shannen Mallia was next to deliver a perfectly wieghted through ball for Salamatu Abdulai who made the run. However, the finish was wide of the far right post.
At the other end, Valletta transitioned with purpose once more. Joelma Alves Gabriel and Eliza Csik combined again, but the Brazilian’s effort was blocked by Jade Schembri.
Changes ensued with Patricia Araujo making way for Erika Muscat in goal for Swieqi United. Meanwhile, Aalliyah Bonnici Carbonaro and Kate Muscat took to the pitch instead of Sarah Fenech and Liliana Zolorsano for Valletta.
However, the Owls kept the ball well away from their goal, overpowering the fatigued side and with the finishing touch delivered at the end to extend the score.
Sarah Urpani’s effort from distance was palmed by Gabriella Grima into the crossbar, with Sara Saliba* ready to pounce on the rebound to make it four. Salamatu Abdulai completed a late hat-trick with two goals in quick succession. The Ghanaian sped onto a through pass with finish low into the centre of the net, before being the hungriest for the ball against a static Valletta defence to laser a finish into the right side of the net to make it six.
Final Score: Swieqi United 6 – 1 Valletta
Standings & Next Matches
Swieqi United ensure that they finish the round just three points off the leaders, Mgarr United. The two will ignite the second round this Thursday at the Victor Tedesco Stadium at 20:30.
Valletta walk away with defeat but consolation in a well taken goal. They will prepare for their second round opener against Birkirkara, at the same stadium and time on Friday. The Stripes will head into it following their victory over San Gwann.
Assikura Women's League - Standings
Edits*: Perceived own goal officially awarded as goal to Aleksandra Yaneva. Sara Saliba previously incorrectly identified.
Lead Image: Riccardo Flask
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[…] it follows further changes, with Swieqi United’s last fixture, a 6 – 1 win against Valletta, also having had a change in venue and time from the Charles Abela Stadium to the Dingli Ground. […]